Charles Farmer
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Pride in Dallas (not to be confused with the Pride parade during the national Pride Month in June) is an annual parade for the LGBTQ+ community along Cedar Springs Rd. in Oak Lawn, Dallas’ historic gayborhood.
Though it is sometimes called “second pride,” the iteration of the parade on Cedar Springs is a predecessor of sorts, as longtime members of Dallas’ queer community know it as the home base for Pride celebrations.
The separate occasions are not without controversy, though. Community leaders, tired of years of overt rainbow capitalism and a relocation to Fair Park ($20 to park within the fairgrounds, it should be noted), wanted the parade back in the gayborhood.
In summary, we in Dallas are lucky enough to have two official Pride celebrations: one in Fair Park in June and this one in September. Local drag staple and 2025 Best of Dallas winner Cassie Nova gave good context to the discourse in her June Dallas Voice column.
This year in particular, it was a delight to see Pride so focused on community. Local organizations for queer people filled the parade, which was a pleasant change from the big bank and real estate-sponsored floats of other parades. This strengthened sense of community also comes as a comfort in a time when the rights of LGBTQ+ people are under increased attack from the Texas Legislature and beyond. Community health organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, gay car clubs, local bars and so many others got their rightfully earned moment in the sun.
The parade was also well-organized, as the community showed up and showed out. And of course, once the parade came to a conclusion, everybody headed into the A/C for a cold, very stiff drink — a gay bar tradition if there ever was one.
Check out the full gallery below.
Photos by Charles Farmer.
